Floob construction



C. W. STEVENS.

FLOOR CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I7. 1916.

1 1 95,289. Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. W. STEVENS.

FLOOR CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17. 1916.

1 1 95,289. Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

. 2 SHEETSSHEET Z.

CHARLES WHITNEY STEVENS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLOOR CONSTRUCTION.

Speeificatirs Patent. Patented Aug, 22 1916,

Application filed February 17, 1916. Serial No. 78,923.

- tion'of buildings and particularly of dwellings, my object generally stated being to provide a sound proof construction so that the noises on one floor of the building will' not be transmitted to the one above or below,

and to do this in a way which will improve the constructional features of the building so far as concerns the strength, rigidity and permanency of,the same, which will facilitate other operations in the erection and maintenance of the building, including'the installation and replacement of pipes and conduits, and-which at the same time will be inexpensive for both labor and materials.

In the drawings illustrating the application of my invention: Figure 1 is a vertical section of a floor construction through the nailing strip, supporting chair and adjacent parts; Fig. 2 is a vertical section at right angles to the section of Fig. 1, showing the nailing strip and supporting bracket in side elevation; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section of the construction at a partition and showing the manner of supporting the studding; Fig. 5

is a vertical section at righttanglesto the section of Fig. 4 showing the studding and supporting chair in side elevation; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the parts shown in Figs. 4 and 5; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of part of a building provided with my improved floor construction and showing the manner of supporting the nailing strips for the floor and studding of the partitions.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and first to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7 theconstruction here shown comprises, the lower rough floor 10- supported on joists 11,'an upper finishing floor 12 secured to the nailing strip 13 by means of nails 13*, supports or rough floor 10, this providin chairs 14 on whichthe nailing strip 13 is supported, and a pad or cushion 15 embracing the nailing strip 13 and held in place by the chairs 14. Each of these chairs-l4 which may be formed of an integral cast metal member or otherwise, comprises a cushion holding portion 16 and two spaced supporting legs 17 which bear on the lower rough floor 10 preferably on opposite sides of the joist 11. The legs 17 are provided with foot portions 18 to provide a substantial support for the chairs on the rough floor. The foot portions 18 have lugs 19 formed integral therewith provided with slots 20/through which securing means 21 are driven into the rough floor 10 to hold the chairsin position. The slots afl'ord opportunity for sidewise adjustment of the chairs should the same be desired after holding portion 16 is provided with two holes 22 to receive a wire loop 23 for hold ing the cushion in place. The chairs 14 hold the nailing strip 13 some distance above the ample clearance for conduits such as 24 or the electric wiring and for gas and water pipes. In constructing this flooring the first or rough floor 10-is laid on the joists 11 in the usual manner, then on top of this rough floor the cast metal chairs 14 are placed at'intervals, say about 18 inches apart, to sustain the nailing strip 13 to which the finishing floor 12 is secured by means of nails 13. These nailing strips are ordinarily placed about 18 inches apart throughout the floor space. The nailing strip itself is separated the chair by means of the cushion 15 which may be of cattle hair, sea grass, felt or the like. By this construction there is no connection between the finishing floor and the rough floor except through the cushion so that any sound due to impact on the finishing floor is effectually deadened so far as the lower rough floor is concerned.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 showing the partition, the lower and upper floors 10 and 12 may be the same as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The studding 25 rests on a nailing strip,

fioor plate or sill 26 and may be secured thereto by nailing or in any suitable manner. This supporting sill 26 rests on a pad rom ' securing means 32. With this construction also it will be noted that there is no rigid connection between the studding 25 and the rough floor, the only, connection being through the cushion 27. By this construction various advantageous features are obtained. The complete isolation of the upper and lower floors except through the cushions may be obtained, that is, the nails or other securing means for the two floors do not extend through the cushions so as to mechanically connect the parts. As a result the sound waves in one are not transmitted directly to the other.. By arranging the chairs so that the straddle the lower joists, any tendency o the sound waves to follow the legs of the chairs is dissipated in the lower flooring and is not communicated directly to the joists. The space beneath the nailing strips and. studding sill is such that it leaves a comparatively large practically uninterrupted dead-air space which also tends to deaden the sound. This construction also tends to eliminate s'queaking and creaking of -the floors. The nailing strips are supported uprightly in the chairs so that they do not tend to tip sidewise as in some prior constructions, and which produces an undes rable squeaking. This also roduces a r1g'1d constructlon. Again, the helght of the nailing strips above the floor provides ample clearance for the pipes beneath so that they cannot touch and rub on the pipes, and produce a squeaking noise. And this is true even if the cushioning material is compressed to its fullestextent. Nor is it necessary, as 1n some prior constructions, to cut out the lower edge of the nailing strips to accommodate the pipes and conduits, which weakens the nailing strips, and, unless extra precaution is taken, usually results in the nailing strips touching the pipes at the sides of the notch or on to after the floor settles. 13y preventing the nailing strips from touchmg the pipes not only is squeaking prevented but the sound is not transmitted from the finishing floor to the rough floor. It will be understood that these pipes and conduits are not laid in any particular order or with .any regularity or exactness. They usually take the shortest cut across between any two designated points. This is illustrated in Fig. 7, where 50 designates a gas pipe running diagonally across beneath the nailing strips,'60 an electric conduit, 70 a water pipe, and 80 a hot water or steam pipe runconduits are of different sizes and vary from a inch to 1 inches or larger in diameter.

The old way of notching or severing the nailing strips an partition floor plates to-pass over these p1 es is cumbersome, troublesome, unsatisfactory and a mere makeshift. In applicants invention, however, the pipes do not interfere with the floor or partitions. They maybe laid as desired, the floor likewise, and the whole readily constructed without undue expense or labor. By this construction also the noise is not transmitted down through the partition, even when the upper floor boards touch it, for the whole structure of the partition below the line of the upper floor is carried by the cushions and chairs. All this is accomplished by comparatively simple and inexpensive means, which is easy to install and eiiicient in use.

It will be apparent that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or intended scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims. I

The cushioning means obviously may be otherwise secured in position than by the wire loops. A felt or other cushioning pad may be placed beneath the chairs and covering the lower floor. And in a fire proof construction where the lower floor is of concrete, cement or other material, the chairs may rest thereon and be secured thereto in any desired way, as, for instance, by embedding them or their lower parts in the concrete or cement or by mounting them on a strip of wood of suitable dimensions which is itself embedded in the concrete or cement.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a building floor construction, the combination with a lower floor, of rigid supports arranged in rows on said lower floor, and having their supporting sur-' laid on said lower floor, and an upper floor laid on and secured to said nailing strips, the space between said floors and beneath said nailing strips being comparatively deep.

2. Ina building floor construction, the

combination with a lower floor, of rigid supporting chairs arranged in rows on said lower floor and suitably spaced apart in said rows, said chairs having theirsupporting surfaces elevated well above the lower floor and side members extending above said supporting surfaces, a sound-insulating pad carried by each of said chairs and lining the seat and side members of the same, nailing strips carried by said rows of chairs and resting on the felt pads at the bottom and embraced by the side'members of the felt pads and chairs, the lower edges of said nailing strips being at all times supported well above the lower floor. and providing ample clearance above the gas, water, electrio and other conduits laid on said lower 4 i floor, and an upper floor laid on and secured --'to said nailing strips.

3. In a building floor construction, the combination with a lower floor, of rigid supporting chairs arranged in spaced relation in rows on said lower floor, said chairs having their seats well above the surface of the lower floor and side members extending above saidseats, a sound-insulating pad car- 'ried by each said chair and fitting and lin ing the seat and side members thereof, means for securing said insulating pads in place in said chairs, nailing strips carried y said rows of chairs, said nailing strips resting on; the seats of the chairs and em braced by the side members thereof with the insulating pad interposed, whereby the nailing strips are out of'contact with-the chalrs except through said pads, the lower edges of the nailing strips being supported well above the lower floor and providing ample clearance above the water,- gas and electric conduits laid on the lower'floor, and an upper floor laid on said nailing strips and secured thereto;

4. In a building construction, the com bination with a lower floor, of a partitionwall comprising a floor plate and studding :secured to and carried thereby, rigid "sup" ports for said floor plate placed at he uent I intervals throughout -tlie length thereo and having their gpporting surfaces well above the lower floor andcarrying. said. floor plate in an elevated position well above the lower.

. floor, sound-insulating pads carried by said supports beneath the said partition floor plate on which said floor. plate rests, said floor late being otherwise out of contact with t 'e said supports and said lower floorexcept through said pads, said floor plate having its lower surface elevated above and out of contact with gas, water, electric 0011- duits etc., laid on the lower floor.

5. ln a floor construction, supports for the nailing strips of the upper floor or partitions to elevate said strips above the pipes, conduits and other obstacles on the lower floor and insulate the two floors against sound transmlsslon, each such support comprising a rigid chair having a base portion resting on said lower floor, an elevated seat for having a horizontal seat and two side members extending thereabove, a sound-insulating pad-fitting and lining said seat and side members to carry the nailing strip and I embrace itssides and insulate it'from the chair, and spaced legs extending downwardly from the seat portion and serving to carry the same in an elevated position for the purposes set forth.

7. In a building construction, the combination with a lower floor, of rigid supports or chairs arranged in spaced relation in rows on said lower floor, 'sald supports or chairs having their seats elevated well above the lower floor, sound-insulating pads on said seats, one ormore partitions carried by certain of said supports or chairs, the partition sill or nailing stripof said partition resting on said insulating pads and otherwise out of contact with the supports or chairs, floor nailing strips carried by the other of said rows of supports or chairs and resting on the insulating pads and otherwise out of contact with sai supports or chairs, andan upper flooring laid on said nailing strips, whereby the whole upper floor and I partitions are elevated and carried well above the lower floor to perniitpipes and conduits to be freely laid on the lower floor beneath-and out of contact with the nailing strips of the upper floor and partitions and a deep space is provided between said floors.

8. A support for anailing strip comprising cushioning means for engaging the sides and bottom of the nailing strip, and supporting means having a base portion for hearing on'a floor, and a retaining portion embracing'said cushioning means for holding them in place, said base portion comprising a pairof spaced legs for hearing on the floor .on opposite sides of a joist and of suflicient height to elevate the nailing strip above the pipes conduits, etc., on the floor.-

9. combination with a lower floor, of rigid supports arranged in rows on said lower floor and having their supporting surfaces elevated well above the floor line, said supcarried by said ports being suitably spaced apart in said rows and said rows being similarly spaced apart, a sound-insulating pad associated with said supports and serving to prevent the transmission of sound vibrations from the upper to the lower floor, nailing strips supports, the lower edges of said nailing strips being at all times well above the lower floor and providing ample clearance above the gas, water, electric and other conduits laid on said lower floor, and an upper fioor laid on and secured to said nailing strips, the space between said floors and beneath the nailing strips forming a deep space extending between the two floors.

10. In a building floor construction, the combination with a lower floor, of rigid supports arranged in rows on said lower floor and having their supporting surfaces elevated well above the floor line, said supports 2 nailing strips carried by said supports, the

lower edges of said nailing strips being at all times well above the lower floor and providing ample clearance above the gas, water, electric and other conduits laid on said lower fioor, and an upper floor laid on and secured to said nailing strips, the supports having a height at least equal to the conduits and the distances between the supports being such that the nailing strips are supported and without appreciable sagging between the supports.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub- 3 scribed my name.

' CHARLES WHITNEY STEVENS. 

